Envelope flap deflecting apparatus



Oct. 28, 1969 T. c. SWINYAR ENVELOPE FLAP DEFLECTING APPARATUS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14. 1967 INVENTOR.

Oct. 28, 1969 c. SWINYAR 3,474,711

ENVELOPE FLAP DEFLECTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 1967 :5 She ets-Sheetz 8. Theodore C. Swinydr INVENTOR.

Oct. 28, 1969 c, SWINYAR 3,474,711

ENVELOPE FLAP DEFLECTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3T heodore 6. Swlnyar 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,474,711 ENVELOPE FLAP DEFLECTING APPARATUSTheodore C. Swinyar, Swinyar Enterprises, Inc., Collegedale, Tenn. 37415Filed Aug. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 660,315 Int. Cl. B31b 1/74 US. Cl. 9361 8Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for conditioning the flaps onenvelopes by either opening folded flaps or closing open flaps. A flapfolding element which is inefiective when envelopes with folded flapspass under it, is mounted along a feeding belt on which the envelopesare conveyed toward a flap unfolding element. A flap deflecting rollerengages the edge portion of each envelope from which the flap extends toupwardly deflect the flap and insure its engagement by the flapunfolding element. Both the flap deflecting roller and the flapunfolding element are mounted on a frame displaceable to an inactiveposition when the device is being used for flap folding purposes.

This invention relates to the handling of articles such as envelopesprovided with flaps that are either folded or unfolded. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus which may beconditioned for either folding the flaps on envelopes or unfolding theflaps introduced to the apparatus in a folded condition.

In connection with the handling of articles such as envelopes, curvedelements are often utilized which engage the envelope flaps as theenvelopes are being conveyed along a predetermined path so as to eitherfold the flaps or unfold them. Particularly where the envelope flaps areto be unfolded, it is particularly diflicult to insure consistentsuccessful unfolding of the flaps. This problem is overcome in a uniquebut simple manner by the apparatus of the present invention which mayalso function to fold the envelope flaps without any alteration of theapparatus except to reposition the flap unfolding elements in aninactive position.

In accordance with the present invention, prior to engagement of thefolded envelope flaps by the usual flap unfolding element, a flapdeflecting roller downwardly deflects an edge portion of the envelopefrom which the flap extends so as to upwardly project the flap. In thismanner, the flap is partially opened just before it is engaged by theflap unfolding element in order to insure its engagement by the flapunfolding element.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the flap conditioning apparatus of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a partial front elevational view of the apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is a partial top plan view of the apparatus being utilized forflap folding purposes.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantiallythrough a plane indicated by section line 66 in FIGURE 1 showing theapparatus being used for flap unfolding purposes.

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FIGURE 7 is a partial top plan view of the apparatus while performingits flap unfolding function.

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevational view of the apparatus with theflap unfolding component thereof in an inactive position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the flap conditioning apparatusgenerally referred to by reference numeral 10 is shown in FIGURES l, 2and 3. The apparatus includes a base 12 on which a drive motor 14 isfixedly mounted. Supported by a pair of upright members 16 on the base,is an envelope feeding mechanism generally referred to by referencenumeral 18 which is driven by the motor 14. Envelopes are accordinglyconveyed along a predetermined path by the feeding mechanism 18 from aright end as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2 toward the left end as viewed inthese figures.

The feeding mechanism 18 includes a longitudinal supporting bed 20vertically spaced above the base 12 by the members 16 on which the bedis mounted. Secured to the underside of the bed 20 and projecting fromthe left end thereof, are support arms 22 on which a drive roller 24 isrotatably mounted by means of the axle 26 secured to the arms 22. Formedadjacent one axial end of the drive roller 24, is a groove within whichan endless drive belt 28 is disposed, the drive belt being drivinglyentrained about the drive pulley 30 connected to the output shaft of thedrive motor 14. Adjustably secured to the underside of the bed 20adjacent the right end as viewed in FIGURE '2, are a pair of arms 32which rotatably mount an idler roller 34 by means of the axle 36 securedto the arms 32. The rollers 24 and 34 are dimensioned so that they aretangent to the upper flat supporting surface 36 of the bed 20. Anendless conveyor belt 38 may thereby be entrained about the rollers 24and 34 with its upper run supported on the surface 36.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the bed 20 pivotally mounts anelongated roller bracket 40 which rotatably mounts two rows oflongitudinally spaced rollers 42 and 44. When the roller bracket 40 isdisposed in a substantially horizontal position as shown by solid linein FIGURE 3, the rollers 42 and 44 are closely positioned above theupper run of the conveyor belt 38 so as to hold envelopes 46 on themoving conveyor belt. The roller bracket 40 may of course be upwardlydisplaced to an inactive position as shown by dotted line in FIGURE 3when it is desired to remove any envelopes from the feeding mechanism.Also mounted on the supporting bed adjacent the delivery end is anadjustable bracket 48 rotatably mounting a roller 50 in laterally spacedrelation to the rollers 44 for engagement with the envelopes 46 adjacentto the edge portions from which the flaps 52 extend.

A flap folding element generally referred to by reference numeral 54 isfixedly mounted in an adjusted position on the bed 20 alongside of theconveyor belt 38 adjacent the supply end of the feeding mechanism. Abracket 56 extends upwardly from the bed 20 and adjustably mounts adownwardly inclined threaded rod 58 to which the flap folding element 54is secured in an adjusted position. The element 54 is provided with aninlet end 60 which may be in contact or extend under the conveyor belt38 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 4 so as to initially engage eachenvelope 46 below its open flap as more clearly seen in FIGURE 5. Fromthe edge 60, the flap folding element 54 curves laterally and angularlyby approximately toward an edge 62 overlying the flaps 52 of theenvelopes conveyed thereunder. In this fashion, the open flaps arefolded to the closed position before the folded flaps are passed underthe roller 50 adjacent the delivery end of the conveyor belt. It shouldalso be apparent, that if an envelope with its flap 52 already folded isintroduced to the feeding mechanism at the supply end, it will merelypass under the flap folding element 54 without this element performingany flap folding function. The folded flap may then be opened by a flapopening mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 64.

The flap opening mechanism is mounted on the bed alongside of theconveyor belt 38 by means of the mounting bracket 66 longitudinallybetween the flap folding element 54 and the delivery end of the feedingmechanism. The bracket 66 pivotally mounts a supporting disk 68 fromwhich a supporting arm 70 extends rearwardly opposite to the forwarddirection of feed as indicated by arrow 72 in FIGURE 1. An over-centerpositioning spring 74 is connected at'its opposite ends to the pivotbracket 66 and the disk 68 so as to yieldably hold the supporting disk68 in either an operative position as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 or inan inactive position as shown in FIGURE 8. A mounting rod 76 extendslaterally from the disk 68 and is connected to a curved flap unfoldingelement 78 thereby positioned closely spaced above the flaps of theenvelopes being conveyed thereunder whem the flap opening mechanism 64is in its operative position. Thus, one end 80' of the flap unfoldingelement in the operative position is received under the folded flap 52of an envelope as shown in FIGURE 7 in order to effect unfolding of theflap as the envelope is conveyed under the element 78. It is essentialtherefore that the end 80 move under the flap 52 as each envelopeapproaches the flap unfolding element.

Toward this end, a beveled roller 82 is rotatably mounted on a rod 84extending laterally from the end of the support arm 70 spaced rearwardlyof the flap unfolding element 78. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 6, whenthe flap opening mechanism is in the operative position, the beveledroller 82 is aligned with and projects into a depression 86 formed inthe flat surface 36 of the bed 20 so as to depress the conveyor belt 38into this depression together with the edge portions of the envelopesbeing fed along the conveyor belt. As a result thereof, the flaps 52associated with the envelopes are deflected upwardly so as to insurethat the flap infolding element 78 will be received under the flap.

The construction of the flap conditioning apparatus and its operationwill be apparent from the foregoing description. It will be appreciatedtherefore that the apparatus may be used for either folding or unfoldingenvelope flaps by operatively positioning the flap opening mechanism 64in either an operative position as shown in FIGURE 2 or in an inactiveposition as shown in FIGURE 8. If envelopes with opened flaps aresupplied to the feeding mechanism 18, the flap folding element 54 willbe effective to fold the flaps. In such case, the flap opening mechanism64 will be in its inactive position. On the other hand, when the flapopening mechanism is in its operative position the apparatus may be usedfor flap opening purposes in which case the flap folding element 54 willbe ineffective, requiring no movement thereof from its operativeposition as in the case of the flap opening mechanism 64. The flapopening mechanism is unique in that it not only operatively positions aflap opening element 78 in the path of the envelope flaps but insuresthat the envelope flaps are upwardly deflected just prior to itsengagement by the flap unfolding element, this being accomplished by aflap deflecting roller 82 depressing the edge portion of the envelopefrom which the flap extends together with the conveyor belt into adepression 86 formed in the supporting surface 36 of the bed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a flap conditioning apparatus having means for feeding articlesalong a predetermined path, flap unfolding means fixedly mounted inclosed spaced relation to said feeding means for engagement with foldedflaps extending from said articles, and article deflecting meansengageable with said articles rearwardly of the flap unfolding means inthe direction of feed along said path for deflecting the flaps prior toengagement thereof by the flap unfolding means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said article deflecting meanscomprises a beveled roller engagcable with each article adjacent to anedge portion from which the flap extends, and means rotatably mountingthe roller for depressing the feeding means and the articles carriedthereon.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said feeding means includes anendless conveyor belt, a supporting surface over which the belt carriesthe articles along said path, and roller means holding the articles onthe belt while being conveyed past said article deflecting means and theflap unfolding means, said supporting surface being provided with adepression into which the belt is depressed by said beveled roller ofthe article deflecting means.

4. The combination of claim 3 including movable frame means mounting thearticle deflecting means and the flap unfolding means in operativepositions relative to the feeding means, and over-center positioningmeans connected to the frame means for holding the deflecting means andthe unfolding means in inactive positions spaced from the feeding means.

5. The combination of claim 4 including flap folding means operativelymounted rearwardly of the article defleeting means for folding openflaps extended from said articles while the deflecting means and theunfolding means are in the inactive positions.

6 The combination of claim 1 wherein said feeding means includes anendless conveyor belt, a supporting surface over which the belt carriesthe articles along said path, and roller means holding the articles onthe belt while being conveyed past said article deflecting means and theflap unfolding means, said supporting surface being provided with adepression into which the belt is depressed by said article deflectingmeans.

7. The combination of claim 1 including movable frame means mounting thearticle deflecting means and the flap unfolding means in operativepositions relative to the feeding means, and over-center positioningmeans connected to the frame means for holding the deflecting means andthe unfolding means in inactive positions spaced from the feeding means.

8. The combination of claim 7 including flap folding means operativelymounted rearwardly of the article deflecting means for folding openflaps extended from said articles while the deflecting means and theunfolding means are in the inactive positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,015,926 1/1962 Galambos 53384BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

53-384; ll832; l56442

